BAPTIST WORLD ALLIANCE LAUNCHES EXPANDED HORIZONS PROGRAM

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BAPTIST WORLD ALLIANCE LAUNCHES EXPANDED HORIZONS PROGRAM - proven online training for children and youth church workers

Falls Church, VA - The Baptist World Alliance (BWA) is expanding the HORIZONS Youth and Children's Worker Program to its worldwide network. HORIZONS is a program with a decade of proven success, with more than 500 people already having completed the course. Now, the BWA will bring it to all the world's Baptists.

HORIZONS is a free online training program that guides students through 24 modules in a self-paced program covering youth and children leadership topics. Each module takes about an hour to complete.

It was created out of a need felt by European Baptist Federation (EBF) leadership to discover the needs of youth workers. Throughout the years, with the support of Canadian Baptist Ministries, HORIZONS has strengthened the ministry of EBF across Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia.

"We are very excited to help this program expand its already impressive reach," said BWA General Secretary Elijah M. Brown. "With more than 50% of the world's Christians under age 30, this is one of our most important efforts, ever."

Youth ministry leaders can take this program in 12 languages - English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, Bulgarian, Romanian, Norwegian, German, Serbian, Hungarian, and Portuguese. Online mentors who help interact and guide registered students are already available in 45 countries. To date, more than 12,000 modules have been completed.

Jeff Carter, who designed and implemented this program following his 2003 commission by EBF to conduct an intensive research study of the 54 nations within EBF, now comes to lead its expansion through the BWA. "The success of HORIZONS is really the impact of advocacy and encouragement of our locally trained mentors," Carter said. "These are experienced youth workers who provide the local context for material covered in the course."

Carter will serve at BWA as Director of HORIZONS and Congress Mobilization in partnership with Canadian Baptist Ministries, where he previously ministered as Youth Ministry Training Coordinator and Advisor for the EBF. He will also be working with the BWA to encourage widespread participation in the upcoming BWA Congress in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 22-26, 2020.

Originally from Nova Scotia, Carter held a post as a faculty lecturer at the International Baptist Theological Seminary where he developed youth leadership courses for the master's and certificate programs.

Though this program is being offered for free, each module costs approximately US$20 with 250 students already enrolled. Churches and individuals can sponsor student participation forUS$480 for the entire course. To help support this important initiative, visitwww.bwanet.org/online-giving.

"We want every youth and children's worker to have access to this training," said General Secretary Brown, "and in places where seminary education is not available, this is going to make a critical difference for reaching the next generations."

To listen to Jeff Carter discuss HORIZONS in a podcast hosted by BWA's Division on Mission, Evangelism, and Justice, visit www.bwanet.org/programs/mej.

239 Member Organizations in 125 countries and territories with 169,000 churches and 49 million baptized believers

Media Contacts:Shannon Cowett

Baptist World Alliance

+1 (703) 790-8980

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About HORIZONS:

Jeff Carter

BWAHorizons

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BWA named '2018 Top-Rated Nonprofit' by GreatNonprofits

Created: Wednesday, 26 September 2018

For Immediate Release:

September 26, 2018

BAPTIST WORLD ALLIANCE NAMED “2018 TOP-RATED NONPROFIT” by GreatNonprofits

Award based on Outstanding Online Reviews

Falls Church, VA – The Baptist World Alliance announced today it has been named a “2018 Top-Rated Nonprofit” by GreatNonprofits, the leading provider of user reviews of charities and nonprofits.

BWA unites the world’s Baptists in ministries of compassion, justice, theological education, unity and fellowship, mission and evangelism resulting in thousands of empowered churches working together across national and cultural divides more than a hundred countries around the world.

“We are honored to be named a 2018 Top-Rated Nonprofit,” says Dr. Elijah M. Brown, General Secretary of the BWA. “We are proud of our accomplishments this year, including launching Horizons, an expanded effort to train youth and children’s church workers throughout our network.”

The Top-Rated Nonprofit Award is the based on the rating and number of reviews that Baptist World Alliance received from volunteers, donors and aid recipients.

“The Baptist World Alliance” is a great example of a nonprofit making a real difference in their community,” said Perla Ni, CEO of GreatNonprofits, “Their award is well-deserved recognition not only of their work, but the tremendous support they receive, as shown by the many outstanding reviews they have received from people who have direct experience working with the BWA.”

“My involvement with Baptist World Alliance goes back almost thirty years,” says, Karen Bullock, a volunteer and commission leader, “in which time I have never been disappointed with its mission, its administration, its integrity, or its financial responsibility.” BWA subjects itself annually to an independent audit and publishes each final report to aid potential supporters in feeling confident of the organization’s commitment to its fiduciary responsibility.

GreatNonprofits is the leading website where people share stories about their personal experiences on more than 1.6 million charities and nonprofits. The GreatNonprofits Top-Rated Awards are the only awards for nonprofits determined by those who have direct experience with the charities – as donors, volunteers and recipients of aid.

About Baptist World Alliance “Networking the Baptist family to impact the world for Christ.”

239 Member Organizations in 125 countries and territories. 169,000 churches and 49 million baptized believers.

About GreatNonprofits GreatNonprofits is the leading site for donors and volunteers to find stories and ratings of nonprofits. Stories on the site influence 30 million donation decisions a year. Visit www.greatnonprofits.org for more information.

Media ContactsShannon Cowett

703-790-8980

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Perla Ni

Great Nonprofits

650-249-3792

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12 earn Christian leadership certificates in Zurich

Created: Wednesday, 18 July 2018

ZURICH, Switzerland -- Twelve Baptists from eight nations earned the Certificate in Christian Leadership during the Baptist World Alliance Annual Gathering July 1-6 in Zurich in a new leadership development effort of BWA’s Division of Mission, Evangelism, and Justice.

“My eyes have certainly been opened to the breadth and depth and work” of BWA, said Starlette Thomas of the United States. “I plan to share of the global presence, ministry and impact of the BWA. “

Trisha Miller Manarin, missions, evangelism, and justice coordinator, said, “The intent of the certificate is to intentionally engage attendees in the heart work of the 16 commissions of the MEJ division.”

Participants in the Annual Gathering in Zurich could attend as many as six commission sessions from 36 different options. Each person who earned a certificate took part in at least five sessions, with no more than two sessions from any one commission.

Each commission has elected members, but others are welcomed and encouraged to attend. Certificate participants are “expected to return home with something new to share or with a renewed commitment to the mission of the Baptist World Alliance,” Manarin said.

The 2018 meeting offered a “soft launch” of the certificate program, Manarin said. “The program will be fully launched in 2019 during the Annual Gathering in the Bahamas.”

“I’m going back to my church richer and more enthusiastic,” said Petrina Nistor, Turkey. “I will certainly share much of my experience.”

Rachel Ade Lateju of Nigeria spoke of returning home to “share how BWA is bringing the global Baptist family into one room because we are one happy family in Christ Jesus.”

Imnatoshi Longkumer of India plans to “encourage my people to participate and collaborate with BWA, by sharing what I have experienced during the BWA 2019.”

BWA’s Manarin celebrated the 2018 recipients and gave thanks for the “dedication of the commission chairs and members who serve with enthusiasm and commitment to the Lord. We hope more people will consider being part of the certificate program next year and discover the rich gifts and insights the 16 commissions have to offer our global Baptist family.”

Here are the first 12 to complete the certificate:

Sukru Biyacioglu, Turkey

Mary Chin, USA

Dawari George, Nigeria

Rachel Ade Lateju, Nigeria

Imnatoshi Longkumer, Nagaland (India)

Sanna Msiza, South Africa

Petrina Nistor, Turkey

Samuel Otu-Pimpong, Ghana

Daniel Philip, South Africa

J. Yvonne Potter, Jamaica

Starlette Thomas, USA

Edwin K. Wirenda, Ghana

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Baptists responding to Lombok earthquakes

Created: Thursday, 16 August 2018

JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Earthquakes that shook the Indonesian island of Lombok over the past week have resulted in at least 430 deaths, and the government is estimating economic losses in excess of several hundred million dollars.

Asia Pacific Baptist Aid (APBAid) is working with Baptist churches in Indonesia that are joining with other nonprofits to assess the needs and provide support to those who are affected by the quakes. Transform Aid International of Australia is also coordinating Baptist groups responding to the situation.

Gifts to support the relief efforts may be given through Baptist World Aid (BWAid) at bwanet.org. (Please note “Disaster response” in the comment section of the form.)

Damage to homes, infrastructure, and other property is estimated to be at least $342 million USD. The magnitude 6.9 quake flattened thousands of homes. "The damage and losses are very large," a disaster agency spokesman told CBS News.

APBAid reports that the central government has deployed clean drinking water, ready-to-eat food, tents, and medical teams and medicine.

BWAid is a ministry of the Baptist World Alliance. It works with Baptist bodies throughout the world in connecting resources with relief and development needs.

BWA speaks on religious liberty, women, immigrant families

Created: Friday, 06 July 2018

By Tony W. Cartledge

ZURICH, Switzerland – Advocating for religious liberty in eastern Ukraine, protecting women and girls, and keeping immigrant families together were the focus of resolutions approved by the Baptist World Alliance General Council in Zurich July 2-6.

Religious Liberty in Eastern Ukraine

The first resolution expressed concern about the curbing of religious freedom in an occupied area of the Lugansk region in eastern Ukraine, where Russian forces have taken control of the area and abetted its reorganization as the “Lugansk People’s Republic” (LPR).

The “Resolution on the Freedom of Religion in the Lugansk Region in Eastern Ukraine” notes that a new law imposed by the LPR requires that “all religious organizations within the LPR, except the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC), must now prove their loyalty to LPR authorities through a re-registration procedure in order to maintain their legal status,” as well as “to report in detail their activities.”

The statement observes that the law “violates universal human rights, restricts religious freedom, and threatens the existence of existing religious groups and organizational networks,” which violates several articles of international law. Enforcement of the law threatens the futures of 43 Baptist churches in the area.

“All people are created in God’s image and endowed with freedom to worship and practice their religion according to the dictates of their own hearts,” the resolution states, urging the Lugansk Peoples Republic “to change the law in order to make it compatible with Freedom of Religion or Belief as stated in the international declarations, conventions and agreements.”

The resolution further calls upon the UN special rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief to gather information, visit the region, and pressure LPR authorities to bring the law in line with international standards.

Protecting Women and Girls

A “Resolution Opposing Violence and Abuse of Women and Girls” responded to issues recently brought to the fore by the #MeToo and #ChurchToo movements. It “Affirms that women and girls are created in the image of God and invested with inestimable worth and dignity as gifts from God, and are essential to the health and vitality of families, churches, communities and national life.”

“The church has at times stood silent,” the resolution states, “or has been guilty of perpetuating biblical and theological interpretations regarding women and girls that render them vulnerable to violence and abuse in the home, the church, and society; and hinder their ability to live into the fulness of God.”

The resolution “Notes that the harassment and violence against women and girls worldwide are immoral,” and that “the church has too often been guilty of abusing and demeaning women and girls, and of covering up instances of abuse.”

In response, the resolution calls on BWA member bodies to “enhance the appreciation of the worth and dignity of women and girls in all aspects of family, church life, and in society;” to “provide access to counseling and safe places for women and girls who are victims of abuse;” to “ensure a system of transparent accountability that includes reporting of suspected abuse to appropriate authorities both inside and outside the church;” and to “design and implement culturally contextualized curricula to educate ministerial leadership and congregations about the multi-faceted problem of violence on women and processes to prevent such violence.”

Separating Immigrant Families

The resolution on immigrant families was inspired largely by U.S. actions that have separated many children from their parents at the border, but family separation was recognized as a global problem. The “Resolution on Preserving the Primacy of Family in Immigration” notes that “the human desire to preserve and protect one’s family from violence, disease, economic depravity, and other threatening conditions is universal and drives millions of people to leave their homelands seeking better lives for themselves and their family members.”

The resolution further “affirms the biblical mandate to welcome the stranger” and asserts that God created the family as integral to a healthy society. It, “Calls upon individuals, churches and religious organizations to be involved in immigration issues, supporting the primacy of family solidarity;” and “encourages all Baptists to prophetically challenge immoral policies that seek to undermine the rights and dignity of immigrants, migrants, and refugees.”

Finally, the resolution “urges all governments to follow international law regarding the proper treatment of immigrants, migrants, and refugees, and to uphold the primacy of the family unit.”